Find the lesser of two consecutive integers with a sum greater than 16?

3 Answers

• 8

  Let x = the first integer

  Then x+1 = the second integer

  And x+(x+1)>16.

  Solve the inequality:

  2x+1 > 16

  2x > 15

  x > 15/2

  Since x is an integer…

  x = 8

• x = integer

  x + 1 = next consecutive integer

  x + x + 1 > 16

  2x + 1 > 16

  2x > 15

  x > 7.5

  least integer x can be is 8

• x+(x+1) = 2x+1 >= 17

  2x >= 16

  x>= 8

  the smaller of the two is at least 8